Afternoon – Page 9

through endless farmland-
I suddenly see myself
in a passing train
–
ice tinged puddles-
a stranger lingers
in the water

blinded by the pain-
your small hand comes to guide me
out of the darkness
–
crystal sky-
the sudden flight
mourning doves

high above the ground-
defying gravity while
wrapped in flowing silk
–
empty fairgrounds-
torn and faded canvas
flaps in the wind

wrapped in white linen-
a flight of doves foreshadow
this final journey
–
evening shadows-
the winding road
into darkness

sea foam in her hair
warmed by the tropical sun
caressed by the breeze
–
ocean breeze-
rum runners in the shade
of a date palm

slow curls of wood smoke-
snow covers the cabin roofs
nestled in the trees
–
pine boughs-
bent and white
with autumn snow
#snowing

a cruel summer sun
the earth blistering beneath
her withering gaze
–
abandoned-
once fertile soil
becomes as dust

cold wind in my face-
through watering eyes I watch
hawks soar overhead
–
pure joy-
jowls flapping
in the slipstream

woodsmoke in the air-
frozen rain falling on the
dry autumn leaves
–
coals set to bed-
the crackle of sleet
lingers in my ears

the cool below ground-
laying in the winter stores
before the first snow
–
late autumn morn-
a taste of last june’s
strawberry jam